Apparatus for treating liquids with ultra-violet rays.



V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER'& M. VON RECKLINGHAUSEN.

APPARATUS FOB TREATING LIQUIDS WITH ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS. APPLICATION FILEDJULY 31. 1911.

Patented Jul 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER & M. VON RECKLINGHAUSEN. APPARATUS FOR TREATINGLIQUIDS WITH ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1911- 1,115,140., Patented July 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENT RE:

V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER & M. VON RECKLINGHAUSEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS WITH ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 3|, I911.

1.145 14% Patented July 6,1915.

Mgw.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER & M. VON RECKLING HAUSEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS WITH ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED JUL YHI, 1911.

l mfijwg 1111611161. July 6, 1915,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UmTnn sTA ns PAT NT mm- VICTOR HENRI; ANDRE H'ELBRONNER, AND MAX voNancKLINGIIAUsnmon rAnIs, rR cE, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THER. U. v. COMPANY, Inc, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS WITH ULTnA-vIoLnT RAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed July 31, 1911. Serial N 0. 641,478.

To all whom it may concern:

" pose.

Be it known that we, VICTOR HENRI and located at a higher level than thetreating apparatus, and the latter may also be con- ANonii HELBRONNER,citizens of the Repub nected to a vacuum pump, so that the rate at whichthe llquid passes through the aplie of France, and MAX VON REOKLING-I-IAUSEN, a subjectof the Emperor of-Germany, residing at Paris, France,have mvented new and useful Improvements -in Apparatus for TreatingLiquids with Ultra- Violet Rays, of which the following is aspecification. v

This invention relates to the treatment of liquids by means ofultra-violet rays especially liquids that are somewhat opaque to therays, and has for its object the construction of apparatus suitable forthispur- In sterilizing water and other liquids that are not opaque tothe ultra-violet rays, the liquid may be submitted to the action of therays in open troughs of considerable depth. In the case, however, ofliquids such as milk orliquids which are deeply colored, liquidscontaining substances in suspension, and'emul'sions it is necessary toconduct the operation while the liquid is in the form of a thinfilm onaccount of its opacity to the rays. v

In the specification filed with our apphcation for United States Patent,Serial No. 608,473, filed 13th Feby., 1911, we have described anapparatus for treating liquid by 'means of ultra-violet rays, in whichthe ultra-violet rays.

liquid is caused to pass through a shallow closed channel preferably ofcircular cross section, which is provided with a top side of mica,quartz, Uviol glass, this being a special kind of glass manufactured byMessrs. Schott & Genossen of Jena, which permits the passage of therays, or any other suitable material, which is translucent to In thepresent invention we provide an improved construction of this apparatusby forming the same of two plates, one of which is composed of materialpermeable to ultra-violet rays, with a ring of material separating theplates and means for clamping 'the' two plates together, so as to form ashallow channel. Suitable openings to which inlet and Outlet pipes maybe connected are provided in either or both plates, and said plates maybe .either curved or plane, as found most convenient.

In using the apparatus, the liquid to be treated, milk, for instance, ispreferably by the rays to provide both a base-plate and cover of amaterial permeable to ultra-violet rays and to locate a lamp on bothsides of the container thus formed so that the film of liqluid isexposed to ultra-violet rays on both s1 es.

The invention will be clearly understood by the following descriptiontaken in conunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 isa verticalsection of a cylindrical apparatus the lamp being supportedapproximately at the center. Fig. 2 is a section on the line II, Fig. 1.Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections of modified-forms of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the fiat plates andborders, used in the construction of the apparatus, Fig. 7 being aperspective view showing the plates fitted together. Fig. 8 1s asectional elevation showing how the apparatus is used, and Fig. 9 showsin elevation an arrangement with a lamp at each side; Figs. 10 and 11are a vertical section and plan view respectively drawn to an enlargedscale showing a method ofclamping the plates together; Fig. 12 is avertical section of an arrangement of the apparatus completelysurrounding the lamp, Fig. 13 being a vertical section on the lineII-II, Fig. 12; Figs. 14: and 15 show alternative arrangements forcooling purposes and Fig. 16 is a general view of the apparatus showingan arrangement for supplying the liquid and collecting it aftertreatment. I

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a shallow channel indicated at 1 isformed by two plates, one of which marked 2 consists of mica, quartz,Uviol glass or the like, and

the other of which marked 4 may be of metal glass porcelain or othersuitable material. These plates, which are substantially circular crosssection, are separated by strips 19 of paper, rubber or other suitablematerial of such a thickness as will form V a channel of the desireddepth. The plates are secured together by the clamps 8, so as to form ahermetically sealed chamber.

.The liquid to be treated enters the chamber by the inlet pipe 5 andleaves it by the outlet pipe 6. The source of ultra-violet rays,--

a mercury vapor lamp having a quartz container 3, for example,- islocated at or about the axis of the circular channel, so that theultra-violet rays emitted radially therefrom pass through the permeablewindow 2 and 7 act upon the liquid. A reflector 7 may be provided, asshown, in order to prevent the ultra-violet raysfrom passing away to theatmosphere without being utilized. For the purpose of cooling the plate2 water may be sprayed thereon from the pipes 9, so thatit runs down ina thin film and by inclining the apparatus slightly it may be led awayat one end of the same.

According to the arrangement shown in Fig. the apparatus is composed oftwo substantlally semi-cylindrical parts 10 and 11 through which theliquid may be passed in series or in parallel. In this construction thewater used for cooling can be collected and ledaway by the pipe 12 asshown.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4 the apparatus instead of beingcylindrical in shape is built up of a number of flat channels 12, 13,and 14, each of which is provided with a cover plate 15- made of amaterial such as rock-crystal transparent to the ultraviolet rays. Thesechannels are arranged around the lamp 3 and the liquid passes throughthem in succession, by means of the connecting passages 16 and 17. Inthe case,

however, of liquid such as milk, which in order to obtain thoroughsterilization must be exposed to ultra-violet rays in the form of anexceedingly thin film, afilm of the thickness of paper may be obtainedby providing the plate 18 with a plane surface and lacin around the edgea ring of paper 19. Instead of paper other suitable 'materlal may beemployed of any desired thickness and outline, and in some cases it maybe desirable to change the direction of the-flow of the liquid while itis exposed to the rays base and the quartz sheet will be formed thedepth of which is equal to the thickness of the ring. Suitableiinlet andoutlet pipes 21 and 22 may bereadily connected to the backplate. Theplates may be of any suitable form and we are notrest'ricted to the useof fiat plates for this purpose. -The plates may be secured together inany convenient manner and for this purpose clamps 23 may be employed asshown in Fig. 8. The base plate 18 in this instance might consist ofrock-crystal and the lamp 3 is mounted as near as possible to the cover20 also of rock crystal. The liquid is forced through the cavity betweenthe plates and collected in the receiver 24. As in this case both thetop and bottom plates are permeable to ultra-violet rays and some of therays pass completely through the liquid, the receiver is within thesphere of influence of the rays so that there is norisk of reinfectiontaking place. If desired two lamps may be used, one supported above thetop plate and the other supported below the bottom plate so that thefilm of liquidbetween the two plates is exposed to the rays on bothsides as shown in Fig. 9.

Figs. 10 and 11 show how the plates may be hermetically securedtogether, in this case, the three plates 25, 26- and 27 are mounted in arectangular frame 28 a cavity being provided between the plates 25'and26' through which water for cooling purposes may be passed, an inletpipe 29 and an outlet 30 being provided for this purpose in the frame.Plates 26 and 27 are separated'by paper or other suitable packingmaterial and a cavity is formed of such dimensions that a film of thedesired thickness is obtained when the liquid to be treated is passedthrough. The thickness of the film will be determined by the thicknessof the paper packing 19. The frame in which the plates are mounted iscomposed of several sections, rubber or other suitablepacking 31 beingprovided between the sections of the frame and the plates in order toallow of expansion ofthe latter. The cavities through which the coolingwater and liquid under treatment are passed are hermetically closed bymeans of the clamping bolts 32. An inlet pipe for the liquid to' betreated may conveniently be provided leading to an opening in the lowestof the three plates and an outlet of'similar form is provided at theother side of the apparatus.

In the modified form of the arrangement shown in Figs. 12 and 13 thelamp 3 is mounted in a tube or cylinder 33 constructedin two sections ofmaterial permeable to the ultra-violet rays. Around this cylinder anumber of containers 34 constructed as above described are mountedsurrounding the lamp, for instance in the form of a hexagon as shown inFig. 13. The containtween the frame and plate. The

ers 34 are mounted in a frame 35 in such a manner that the outer plateof each container can be readily detached. As shown, screws 36 areprovided on the frame by means of which the outer plate can be screweddown on to the base plate, rubber or other suitable packing 31 beingprovided beliquld is admitted at one end of the apparatus by the .inletpipe 37 and passes in parallel streams through the independentcontainers 34 by way of the radially arranged passages 38.

Between the cylinder 33 and the actual treating chambers water may becirculated in order that the liquid that is being treated shall not beheated by the rays emitted by the lamp. This form of apparatus utllizesthe rays emitted by the lamp onall sides and is therefore economical.

Alternative arrangements for cooling the liquid in the treating chambersare shown in Figs. 14 and 15. In this instance four chambers 34 areprovided surroundingthe lamp 3 and the whole of the interior space 39between the lamp and the treating chambers is filled with water. Sincewater is more permeable to ultra-violet rays than air there is in thisarrangement little loss of ultra-violet rays although the eificiency ofthe lamp suffers from the excessive cooling. This drawback can, however,be avoided by providing the lamp with an outer jacket 40, theintermediate space between the lamp and jacket being exhausted to a highvacuum as described in the spec fication accompanying our applicationfor Letters Patent Serial No. 565612 filed June 7th, 1910. The spacebetween the outer jacket and the treating chambers may be completelyfilled with water or a stream of water may be allowed to play on thejacket 40 as indicated in Fig. 15.

Fig. 16 shows a general view of the aparatus, 41 indicating the supplyreservoir of liquid to be treated and 42 the reservoir for supplycooling water, which, in this case, is allowed to run directly 'on tothe top plate of the container. The apparatus above which a lamp 3capable of emitting ultra-violet rays is supported, is supplied with theliquid to be treated and the outlet pipe 22 leads to the receiver 43 inwhich the liquid, sterilized milk for example, is collected. The pipe 44leads from the receiver to a vacuum pump (not shown) in order thatsuction may be employed for drawing the liquid through the apparatus.The tube 45 provided with a cook 46 is required in some cases foraerating the liquid after treatment filtering material 47 being providedin the tube in order to prevent contamination of the liquid with dust.

In sterilization of milk it is of great importance as above mentionedthat ,air should be excluded on account of the undesirable effectsofeoxidation. I It is therefore necessary to prevent air from mixingwith the liquid and to havefa fairly rapid stream flowing through theapparatus in spite of the thinness of the film, and the rapidity of flowof the milkthrough the apparatus should be such that little or nooxidation may occur. In order to prevent air coming in contact with theliquid the conduit leading from the supply reservoir to the apparatusshould be constructed so that no airpockets can form. If compressed airis used for forcing the liquid through the apparatus it should not bebrought into direct contact with the liquid because air under pressurewould rapidly dissolve in the milk. This would result in oxidation underthe infiuence of the ultra-violet rays and furthermore would cause anemulsion to be formed after the liquid leaves the apparatus. The use ofreciprocating pumps is undesirable because they tend to produce butterin the milk which is not only unsatisfactory in itself but also chokesthe narrow passages between the plates. We therefore employ any suitablemeans for forcing the liquid through the apparatus under pressureprovided the same will prevent air from mixing with'the liquid. 7

One advantage of forcing liquid through the apparatus under pressure isthat in the event of leakage at any-of the joints liquid will be exudedtherefrom but air will not enter. If, however, it is desirable in thearrangement of the apparatus to use suction for passing the liquid milk,for instance, through the apparatus the joints are sealed hydraulicallyso that if the joints are not tight the liquid in the hydraulic sealswill leak into the apparatus and contamination of the liquid undertreatmentby air will be avoided.

\Vhat we claim is 1. In an apparatus for treating liquids bymeans ofultra-violet rays, the combination of two plates one of which iscomposed of material permeable to ultra-violet rays, a ring of materialseparating said plates, means for clamping said plates and sepa ratortogether and inlet and outlet passages leading to the space thus formedbetween the two plates.

2. In apparatus for treating liquids by means of ultra-violet ,rays, thecombination of two plates one of which is composed of rock crystal, aring of material separating said plates, means for'clamping said platesand separator together and inlet and outlet passages leading to thespace thus formed posed of material permeable to ultra-violet rays, aring of material .separating said plates and inlet and outlet passagesleading to the space thu'sformed between said plates, of a mercury vaporelectric lamp having a quartz container located adjacent to that platewhich is permeable by ultra-violet rays. 4. In apparatus 'for treatingliquids by means of ultra-violet rays, the combination with a pair ofplates havi g a space between them through which sai liquid is passedand a source of ultra-violet rays located adjacent to one of saidplates, of means for positively" cooling said plates and the liquidpassing therebetween. I

5. In apparatus for treating liquids by means of ultra-violet rays, thecombination of two plates one of which is composed of material permeableto said rays, said plates being separated to form a chamber of smalldimensions in the direction perpendicular to the surface of said plates,inlet'and outlet pipes to said chamber and means for forcing a currentof liquid to be treated through said chamber.

6. In apparatus for treating liquids by means of ultra-violet rays, thecombination with a pair of plates having a space between them throughwhich said liquid is passed and a source of ultra-violet rays locatedadjacent to one of said plates, of means a 8. In apparatus for ingtherebetween.

means of ultra-violet rays the combination with a pair of plates havinga space between them through which said'Iiquid is passed and a source ofultra-violet rays located. adjacent to said plates, of means for coo theouter surface of one of said plates to a temperature below that of thesurrounding atmosphere.

,means of ultra-violet rays the combination with a pair of plates havinga space between them through which said liquid is passed and ,a mercuryvapor lamp having a quartz container located adjacent to one of saidplates, of means for supplying cooling water to one of said plates tocool the liquid passing between them.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names thistwentieth day of July, 1911. 1

VICTOR HENRI.

ANDRE HELBRONNTER. 4

MAX VON RECKLINGHAUSEN. Witnesses:

JOHN BA BARTLEY F. Yosr.

for cooling said-plates and the liquidpass- I treating by

